Water heater



Patented Oct. 13, 1942 wA'rEa HEATER.

Robert G. Ferris, Harvard, Ill., assignor to Starline, Inc., Harvard,111., a corporation of II- linois Application June 25, 1941, Serial No.399,639

4 Claims.

My present invention, which relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in a water heater, is a continuation-in-part of my earlierapplications filed December 24, 1938, and March 2'7, 1940, under SerialNos. 247,617 and 326,226, respectively.

A main object is to provide an improved water heater of the storage typefrom which hot water is discharged by the introduction of cold water,the heater remaining full, or substantially so, at all times. Anotherobject is the provision of means in a heater of this type for preventingthe discharge pipe from overflowing or dripping due to. expansion orvaporization of the water during heating. Another object is theprovision of a removable cover whereby to facilitate cleaning of theinterior of the tank. Another object is the provision of hollowsupporting means for the tank affording a simple and strongconstruction. And a still further object is the provision of electricalheating means readily accessible within the tank and withdrawable ordisconnectible therefrom for convenience in repairing, adjustment orreplacement.

These and other objects will appear from the following descriptionwherein reference is made to a suggestive embodiment of the inventionshown in the accompanying drawing which shows a vertical section throughthe present water heater.

The heater comprises a casing with side walls 5, preferably cylindrical,and with a centrally apertured, downwardly sloping conical bottom 6,whose outer edges are down-turned to provide a flange I. An invertedT-iron 8 of circular form provides a base ring over whose web the bottomis rested with its flange engaging the outer face of the web. The lowerend of the casing laps past the flange 1 to which it is desirablyconnected as by welding.

Positioned within the casing, and in spaced relation therewith, is anopen top tank, desirably of sheet metal, provided with side walls 9 andwith a bottom ID that may be centrally upwardly embossed as at H to fitaround a support l2, preferably made of a fibrous insulating sheet whichis wound into a hollow cylinder. This cylinder may be rested upon thecasing bottom adjacent an up-raised boss I3 by which it is centered inposition. Depending from the tank bottom and secured thereto as by spotwelds are angle straps 2 whose vertical arms are connected to thecylinder by screws 3, the cylinder in turn being joined to the casingbottom by other screws 4. The space extending around and below the tankto the sides and bottom of the casing is filled with a suitable packingl4, preferably glass wool which provides a desirable insulation wherebyheated water within the tank may remain so over a prolonged period. Thetop edge of the tank walls terminates in a plane substantially the sameas the top edge of the casing walls.

The tank is maintained centrally within the casing with the aid of anannular spacer ring l5, desirably of plywood, whose underside, adjacentits inner and outer edges, is seated against a pair of opposed facingcircumferential beads l6 and I1 formed conveniently as by inwardcrimping of the walls of the tank and casing, respectively. The ringthussupported presents its upper side in flush relation with the topedges of the tank and casing walls, and serves to protect thecompressible insulation material therebelow. Fitted over the plywoodring is a closure desirably in the form of a channel ring l8 havinginner and outer depending flanges I9 and 20 adapted to engage fixedlywith the walls of the tank and easing, respectively, adjacent theirupper ends. An adhesive may be applied over the inner contactingsurfaces of the channel ring to provide a seal that will prevent anywater or vapor leakage into the insulation. This ring is preferably madefrom some suitable insulating and proofing material which is resilient,such as rubber, whereby to minimize heat losses and provide an effectiveseal which will prevent passage of water therethrough or therearound.Adjacent the lower end of each flange is an inwardly extending bead 2|adapted to engage and resiliently lock within the outer annular channelsresulting from the inward crimps which produce the beads l6 and il inthe tank and casing walls, as already described. The upper surface ofthe channel ring is desirably formed with a plurality of concentricridges 22, the one furthest to the inside being spaced appreciably fromthe flange IQ for a purpose that will presently appear.

Associated with the tank unit just described is a removable closurecover 24, preferably a solid insulating disk made from some suchmaterial as vapor-sealed Celotex which, upon its underside, is formedwith a peripheral recess 25. A lifting knob 25 extends upwardly from thecover. The recessed underside of the disk is adapted to fit over andseat upon the channel ring with whose ridges 22 it may engage. Acylindrical bowl 2'! having at its top an outturned flange 28 is adaptedto underlie the cover.

The bowl flanges which extend over and rest upon the channel ring lie tothe inside of the innermost ridge thereon and desirably below the topsthereof so as to be free of engagement with the closure cover. The upperend of the bowl, including its flange, is accommodated within theperipheral recess on the underside of the cover. The bowl which isremovably seated upon the channel ring is closely fitted thereto so asto remain centered in place, and the internal diameter of the peripheralrecess in the cover is just slightly less than that of the bowl so thatthe latter serves to maintain the former in concentric relation with thetank.

To the lower end of the cylindrical bowl is atfixed a conical bottom 38,these two elements constituting a funnel unit. In the center of theconical bottom is a drain opening from which depends a nipple 3! towhich may be connected it filler tube 32, preferably of rubber or thelike, adapted to depend into the tank to a point relatively close to itsbottom- When the funnel unit is removed, the depending tube also comesout so that the tank is substantially free of any obstructions therein.

A siphon tube 35 passes through the walls of the tank with which it isin sealed connection at a point near its upper end. This tube, which isof larger diameter than the filler tube, proceeds first upwardly, isthen bent at 38 at its topmost point, and then proceeds downwardly at anincline to connect with a discharge hose 3? or the like which extendsoutwardly through an insulating gasket 38 that is supported in thecasing walls. The lower end of the hose terminates below the inlet endof the siphon tube 35 whereby the tube in its entirety may serve as asiphon for the discharge of water from the tank, as will presentlyappear.

An electrical heating unit is adapted to be loosely rested upon the tankbottom. As shown. this unit is contained within a tube 60 in one end ofwhich is a thermostat ti. From this tube is extended an upwardly bentnipple 62 with which a rubber cord 43 is in sealed connection. The

cord passes on up to a point near the upper end of the tank where it isextended through an insulated bushing d4 fitted within an opening in thetank wall just below the depending funnel unit, the bushing connectingwith a short insulated tubing 45' which traverses most of the distancebetween th tank and casing walls to join at its outer end with a secondbushing d6 which is extended through an opening in the casing walls bywhich it is supported. Through the continuous insulated passageway thusprovided between the walls of the tank and casing the rubber cord isadapted to be inserted, thereby carrying with it enclosed electricalconnections (not shown) to a plug ti which is fitted to the outer end ofthe cord. By this arrangement it will be apparent that when the plug isfitted into a socket in connection with a source of electrical current,the heating unit will be energized to maintain at an elevatedtemperature the water which is contained within the tank.

Since the tank when full will require ample support, I have provided theinsulating cylinder I2 whose outer face is of substantially the samediameter as is the boss in the tank bottom so as to seat therewithin andbe maintained concentric therewith. This cylinder is also sustained atits bottom end by the conical casing bottom 6 which provides a trusssupport therefor. The upafiixed in place.

of the casing bottom fits within the cylinder I 2- so as to maintain thelower end thereof in concentric relation with the tank. In this way theload of the tank is adequately supported at points around a circle freeof contact with metallic parts and with a minimum heating loss. Thespace within the cylinder support is also insulated, and this support isalso connected to the bottoms of the tank and casing so that, in theevent of inversion, these two units will not shift or move relatively toeach other.

The tank in its entirety is adapted to be maintained in an elevatedposition as by means of a plurality of legs 5% each by preference in theform of an angle or channel iron. The upper end of each leg is closedover by a web 5! which underlies the base of the inverted T-iron l andthen extends at 52 around and over the inward flange thereof. When theleg is then fitted to the base ring by an outward radial movement, thehooked end 52 of the web will engage with the flange of the T-iron andthereby position the leg accurately to receive a connecting bolt 53which is adapted to pass through a pair of registering apertures in thebase ring and web. When a nut is tightened upon the bolt, the leg isthen immovably Three or mor such legs are desirably attached to the basering so that the tank in its entirety is assured of an adequate elevatedsupport.

Water which is poured into the bowl at the top will enter the tank nearthe bottom, thereby forcing the already heated water therein to flow upand outthrough the siphon tube and discharge hOSe in connectiontherewith. The outflow of water thus initiated will continue after thebowl is emptied, and until the level of water in the tank falls belowthe inlet end of the siphon tube, at which point the entering air willbreak the vacuum. No further dscharge will occur thereafter, even thoughthere be the usual expension of water in the tank due to rise in itstemperature. The siphon tube 37 is desirably larger than is the fillertube 32 so as to prevent overflowing, no matter how much water be placedin the bowl to await passage into the tank. The thermostat may beadjusted to close and open the circuit at, for example, 130 F. and 170F., respectively, consequently any cold water introduced through thefiller tube 32 will cause the circuit to close and the heater to operateuntil the water is brought to the desired temperature when thethermostat will automatically open the circuit again.

One of the outstanding features of my invention is the ease and facilitywith which the cover and funnel may be removed so as to expose the tankfor cleaning or emptying, and also the heating unit for adjustment,repair, or replacement. In certain uses for which my heater isparticularly adapted, such as applying water for cleaning milk cans onfarms, it is possible that the cleaning water will be poured back intothe heater for reheating. In so doing, a deposit is soon built up withinthe tank to hamper its utility. Frequent and thorough cleanings maytherefore be wardly extending boss l3 formed in the center important.Also the means by which my heater is rendered accessible fordisassembly, cleaning and repairing is an outstanding advantage. Anotherfeature of merit is the assured center support of the tank within thecasing without the use of any metallic parts. This applies to the hollowcylindrical support at the bottom, the plywood spacing ring which is ofhigh insulating value plus the channel ring support at the top,

and even the insulated connections (rubber) between the tank and 1) theclosure cover which is fitted thereto, (2) the siphon tube, and (3) thetank and casing walls at the point where the electrical connections passtherethrough. By such a construction I minimize heat losses-an importantconsideration in a heater of the storage type.

I claim:

1. In a water heater in which water is heated by interiorly arrangedheating means, a casing open at the top, a tank within the casing openat the top, a filler of insulating material between the tank and thecasing, a cover adapted for removably fitting over the casing and tankand heat insulating means extending between the casing and the tankadjacent the tops thereof and providing in itself the sole seat whereonthe cover it fitted and also a non-metallic heat path between theinterior of the tank and the casing.

2. In a water heater in which water is heated by interiorly arrangedheating means, a casing open at the top, a tank within the casing openat the top, the tank and the casing tops lying in substantially the sameplane, a filler of insulating material between the tank and the casing,a cover adapted for removably fitting over the casing and the tank, andheat insulating means and vapor sealing means extending between the tankand the casing adjacent the tops thereof and providing in itself thesole seat whereon the cover is fitted and also a non-metallic heat pathbetween the interior of the tank and the casing.

3. In a water heater in which water is heated by interiorly arrangedheating means, a casing open at the top, a tank within the casing openat the top, the tank and the casing tops lying in substantially the samehorizontal plane, a filler of insulating material between the tank andthe casing, heat insulating and'vapor sealing means extending betweenthe tank and the casing adjacent the tops thereof and providing anonmetallic heat path between th interior of the tank and the casing,said mean including an insulated spacer ring extending between the tankand the casing at the top thereof to afford protection to the fillertherebelow and an insulated closure means fitted over the spacer ringand providing a seal against the entrance of water past the spacer ring.

4. In a water heater in which water is heated by interiorly arrangedheating means, a casing open at the top, a tank within the casing openat the top and spaced therefrom, the tank and easing tops lying insubstantially the same plane, a filler of insulating material betweenthe tank and the casing, a funnel supported within the heater, ahorizontal ring of resilient insulating material capping the upper edgesof the casing and the tank, and a flat annular ring of rigid insulatingmaterial interposed between the walls ofethe tank and the casing andrigidly spacing the same adjacent said ring of resilient material, saidrings of insulating material forming a heat path of low heatconductivity between the tank and. the casing.

ROBERT G. FERRIS.

